The meaning of being chased in a dream

Being chased in a dream is one of the most common, as well as distressing dreams.  It is not uncommon after waking from being chased in a dream to feel anxious or even exhausted as though you actually have been running all night!  These dreams may involve long and complicated plots moving from location to location, or they may have just an intense feeling of needing to get away.  You may be running, using transport, or seeking places to hide.

Chase dreams can be confronting to deal with.  They often pose the questions:
•    What do you not want to face up to in your life?
•    Where are you feeling threatened or under siege in your waking life?

Learning to confront your fears, to face up to people or ideas that you find threatening or demeaning, or to admit your own bad habits or self destructive behaviour are some of the most difficult aspects of self development.

If these questions were easy to deal with, they would not have reached the stage in your dreams where you feel panicked, so don’t worry if these questions are difficult to answer at first.  Learning to confront your fears, to face up to people or ideas that you find threatening or demeaning, or to admit your own bad habits or self destructive behaviour are some of the most difficult aspects of self development. The good news is, you can start to address these elements in the same way your dreams do – symbolically.

Try the following exercises:
•    Write a conversation with the person or thing that is chasing or following you, it doesn’t matter if you don’t actually know what it was.   Write it like a script or dialogue, letting the words flow freely.  This will help you “face up” to your assailant.
•    If this dream is because you feel guilty about something, write yourself a letter.  Firstly, write one explaining why you did what you did, and how you feel about it. Then write another, to forgive yourself and recognise that you can’t change the past, that making a mistake does not doom you forever, and that everyone will be better off if you learn to be happy and strong.  Read these letters out loud then destroy them in whatever way seems most suitable to you.
•    Make a sculpture or drawing of your chaser.  If it still looks scary and intimidating, change it a little to look funny or ridiculous. Tell the person or creature they have no power over you any more.  Or you may ask this dream character to become a friend and ally, symbolically integrating this alternative aspect into your personality.

You will know when this dream work starts to take effect as the chasing dreams will change – either you will face the one who chases you, you will dream of getting away, or the chaser will change into something positive.  And as these changes take place in your subtle, subconscious mind, so too should you feel a renewed sense of freedom, confidence and strength in waking life.
Being chased in a dream invites you to stop running, to face your fears and recognise what is good and healthy for your life.

For more information about the meaning of your dreams, including dreams about being chased or attacked, please visit The Dream Well.